Wine Rating: 93
December is my favorite month – for drinking. This time of year I tend to acquiesce to over-indulgence; eating too much, buying too many gifts, feeling more melancholy than usual and more often than not… drinking too much during family gatherings or office parties. Yes, this festive time is about going over-the-top and dealing with it all in January with a ‘New’ attitude. Nevertheless, this month’s columns focus is all about the grape. A faultless time of year for wine lovers… or is it? My wife, my family, and my good friends know one thing when it comes to me and gift giving: “do not buy me wine.” It’s that simple. So if you know someone who is any kind of aficionado, an enthusiast, a devotee of any sort, nine times out of ten you will end up getting them something they already have or something they find second-rate. I don’t want to appear crass or unappreciative, but rather save you money and disappointment when the intended recipient meets your gift with a less than overwhelming reception or you learn later that they gave it away at the ‘white elephant’ party or worse… they just pitched it. It has happened time and time again.
I love wine, but not just any wine. I love (and demand) a ‘damn good wine’. As my palate continues to develop (and as I have shared in previous reviews) it’s becoming harder and harder to drink lesser quality wines and this holds true for my wife as well. Her pallet has enhanced to the point where she’d be quite pleased if our nightly wine was no less than $40 per bottle. We’re not drinking $40 bottles of wine nightly, but I think we are on our way there (if that sounds like you… start saving now). To be clear, that ‘damn good wine’ is based on what I have grown accustomed and how my palate has matured. As an additional note, I am not a heavy Bordeaux drinker. I appreciate and acknowledge that Bordeaux is the greatest region to ever exist for wine. I have fond memories of fine French reds, but it is not my go-to varietal. Even if you spent $1000 on a Château Mouton Rothschild, I would not appreciate it as much as a highly sought-after $300 California Pinot Noir [Marcassin Pinot Noir Three Sisters, 2006 – Hint, Hint]. Again, I do not want to come across as ungrateful or thoughtless… I totally get that the where ‘gift giving’ is concerned; it really is the thought that counts. I am just attempting to share some insight with you when it comes to the ‘collector types’ in your life, getting them something in the area that they are an expert may not be the best ‘go to’ and they don’t have to fain appreciation and curse you when you are not there.
With all that now out in the open, I hope I have not put a damper on your gift giving ideas this year. It’s for all the reasons I just mentioned that I do not bring great wine to family gatherings. I bring nice wine, but not fine wine. Why? If someone does not have a palate for a great selection they will not notice the nuances, the color, the complexity, the rarity, the beauty. To those who have not taken the time to really learn what makes an amazing wine so special, to them it’s ‘just wine’ and something to slug down with the holiday ham. I know I’m being fairly snooty about this, but I hope you will appreciate it when you call me for a wine recommendation for that dinner at your boss’s house.
Also do not get me another f-ing corkscrew! I have a cabinet full of corkscrews; battery powered, air powered, vintage, oyster handled, silver plated, carbon fiber; actually I do like the carbon fiber one. So now that I have totally Grinched the holiday season with my persnickety attitude, let’s see what lovely holiday wine I have chosen for us.
Review Note: I was going to taste the Camus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon that I mentioned a few reviews ago, but it is a 2008 and that lovely bottle needs a few more years. So while we wait for maturity let’s enjoy…
From the Far Niente website: Founded in Oakville, California in 1885 and restored in 1979, Far Niente is consistently recognized as a benchmark producer of Napa Valley Chardonnay and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. A dedication to winemaking in its highest form, paired with a focus on house style, vineyard ownership, and social responsibility, has established Far Niente as one of the world’s great wine estates.
I quoted their website, because as I was writing about them it almost read the same and I did not want to be seen as a plagiarist, so I opted for the lesser of two evils. However, in my own words, Far Niente is Napa Valley done right. A rich history filled with passion and preservation of a historic winery with a long tradition of quality wine. In my elusive palate’s opinion, there are two chardonnays worth drinking. One is Chateau Montelena and the other is Far Niente. Even though this review focusses on their cabernet please also try their chardonnay. Visit their website for the full history of all their properties at FarNiente.com, truly one of my favorite wineries’s in all the land. For a spectacular dessert wine try their Dolce; expensive and worth every drop.
Far Niente
Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003
Produced by: Nickel & Nickel Proprietors
Owners: Beth Nickel, Erik Nickel, Jeremy Nickel, Dirk Hampson, and Larry Maguire
Winery: Far Niente Winery
Label: Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon
City: Oakville
Vintage: 2003
Region: Napa Valley
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appearance (Color): Crimson
Aroma (Complexity): Oak, Black Currant, Tobacco, Licorice
Body (Texture and Weight): Full Body with Matured Tannins
Taste (Balance of Flavor): Forest Floor, Black Cherry, Fig Pudding, Clove, Mushroom, the flavors never stop
Finish (What lingers): Lush tannins, blackberry, and mocha
Price: $150
